US4741440A - Package for horticultural items - Google Patents

Abstract

A package for horticultural items with a receptacle includes a container having a base portion for supporting the receptacle and side portions connected to and extending upwardly from the base portion about the receptacle. A flexible sleeve engages the container side portions to support the container and enclose the horticultural item. The sleeves are supported on a pedestal having flexible straps for spreading the sleeves and allowing removal of a sleeve for packaging the horticultural item.

Description

This is a continuation of copending application(s) Ser. No. 670,679 filed on Nov. 13, 1984.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to packaging horticultural items in general, and in particular to packaging horticultural items with a receptacle which utilizes a container means, and a sleeve that engages the container for wrapping the horticultural items and receptacle.

The use of a sleeve for wrapping a potted plant is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,183,458. In this patent, the use of a sleeve which directly engages the plant pot is disclosed. While enclosing the plant, the sleeve offers little mechanical protection for the pot or thermal insulation of the pot. Current practice for wrapping floral arrangements and plants in odd size receptacles such as bud vases, cruets or brandy snifters is to place such items in boxes and then wrap the box and items with sheet material, the sheet material being either taped or stapled to the box. This procedure is both slow and awkward.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present advantageous package for horticultural items with a receptacle includes a container for receiving the receptacle, and a flexible sleeve engageable with the container to support the container. The package can be utilized with potted plants, floral arrangements and various different types of receptacles for providing a convenient, simple and expedient package for horticultural items. Furthermore, this package for horticultural items can be utilized with potted plants providing thermal and shock insulation between the pot and any surface which the package engages.

The package for horticultural items with a receptacle includes a container having a base portion for supporting the receptacle, and side portions connected to and extending upwardly from the base portion about the receptacle. A flexible sleeve having a relatively larger upper opening and a relatively smaller lower opening engages the container side portion to support the container. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sleeve is conically shaped.

In one aspect of the invention, a pair of opposed side portions extend upwardly and outwardly from the base portion. In another aspect of the invention, a pair of opposed side portions extend substantially vertically upwardly of the base portion. The side portions include upper margins defining an upper container opening for receiving the receptacle.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the vertical side portions include opposed side notches for providing access to the receptacle within the container.

In another aspect of the invention, a modified container includes four upwardly and outwardly tapered side portions. In one aspect of the invention, two opposed side portions include opposed notches.

In still another aspect of the invention, the container includes an upper-wall having an opening for receiving the receptacle. The upper wall has a resilient portion defining the opening for laterally engaging and supporting the receptacle. The upper resilient portion is expandable for permitting insertion and withdrawal of the receptacle into and from the container. A horticultural item and receptacle disposed within the container can be supported by a pedestal. Further, the pedestal supports and retains a supply of flexible sleeves, and provides means for applying a sleeve to the container.

In one aspect of the invention, the sleeve-supporting pedestal includes a base, a support member having an upper end and a lower end, with the support member being connected to the base at its lower end. A platform is connected to the support member upper end. Flexible means are located between the base and the platform for spreading the sleeves.

In one aspect of the invention, the flexible means includes flexible straps connected to the support member. The straps include opposed ends connected to the support member, the straps being bowed laterally outwardly of the support member.

In another aspect of the invention, the support member is a plastic tube, and the straps are plastic and are riveted to the tube. The straps resilient flex for allowing removal of the sleeves from the pedestal.

In still another aspect of the invention, the container includes a substantially rectangular bottom panel having side margins. Opposed side panels, each include a side portion providing a container sidewall marginally connected to the bottom panel, and side flaps connected to opposite sides of the side panel. The side flaps form portions of opposed container sidewalls adjacent to the container sidewall provided by said side portions.

In one aspect of the invention, the side flaps include ear portions, and locking means connected to the bottom panel engaging the side flap ear portions for supporting and retaining the side flaps and side portions.

In another aspect of the invention, the locking means includes opposed marginal slots in the bottom panel adjacent to the side flap ear portions and side lock flaps marginally connected to the bottom panel, the side lock flaps having lips engageable with the bottom panel slots for retaining the side flap ear portions. The side lock flaps fold about the side flap ear portions.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a top flap is marginally connected to one of the side portion, and includes a tongue. The other side portion includes a marginally connected shoulder portion having a slot. The top flap tongue is engageable with the shoulder portion slot.

In still another aspect of the invention, the top flap portions are marginally connected to each of the side portions. The top flap portions include opposed side shoulders having marginal slots. Side flaps include top tabs engageable with the side shoulder marginal slots for supporting the top flap portions.

In another aspect of the invention, the top flap includes a center opening with a plurality of radial slits about the center opening for providing flexible fingers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the package for horticultural items, and the sleeve-supporting pedestal;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sleeve-supporting pedestal;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the unassembled container of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified container;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the unassembled container of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of still another container;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the unassembled container of FIG. 7, and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of yet another container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the package for horticultural items with a receptacle indicated generally by 10, includes a container 11 constituting a container means, and aflexible sleeve 12.

As will be more clearly seen in FIG. 3, the container 11 includes abase portion 13. A first pair ofopposed side portions 14 extend upwardly and outwardly from thebase portion 13. A second pair ofopposed side portions 15 extend substantially vertically upwardly from thebase portion 13. As shown thebase 13 has a rectangular polygonal shape. Theside portions 14 and 15 include upper margins defining anupper container opening 16. Thevertical side portions 15 include opposedside notches 17.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be seen that afloral arrangement 20 in a receptacle 21 is received by the container 11, with thebase portion 13 supporting the receptacle 21. Thenotches 17 provide access to the receptacle 21 in the container 11.

The container 11, as shown in FIG. 1, is supported by a sleeve-supportingpedestal 22 which is more clearly seen in FIG. 2. Thepedestal 22 includes abase 23, asupport member 24, which is a plastic tube, having its lower end connected to thebase 23. Aplatform 25 is connected to the upper end of thesupport member 24. Located between the base 23 andplatform 25 areflexible straps 26, constituting flexible means. The flexible straps 26 are utilized for spreading thesleeves 12 as shown in FIG. 1. The flexible straps 26 include opposed ends connected to thesupport member 24 as byrivets 27. The flexible straps 26 bow laterally outwardly of thesupport member 24. Thestraps 26 resiliently flex for allowing removal of thesleeves 12 from thepedestal 22.

Thesleeves 12 are preferably conically shaped with each having a substantially largertop opening 18 and a substantiallysmaller bottom opening 19. Thesleeves 12 are constructed of flexible sheet material such as paper or plastic material. Polyethelene or other plastic materials are particularly advantageous as they allow viewing of the contents of thepackage 10 through thesleeve 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the container 11 can be constructed of sheet material such as cardboard or corrigated paper. Thebase portion 13 provides substantially rectangular bottom panel having opposedmargins 30 andopposed margins 31.Opposed side panels 32 include theside portions 14 which are marginally connected to thebase portion 13 at themargin 30. Side flaps 33 are connected to opposite side margins of theside portion 14. The side flaps 33 form portions of the opposed container sidewalls adjacent to the container sidewalls provided by theside panels 32. The side flaps 33 each includeear portions 34. Thebase portion 13 includes opposedslots 35 at themargins 31 adjacent to theear portions 34. Side lock flaps 36 are marginally connected to thebase portion 13 at themargins 31. The side flaps 36 fold about the sideflap ear portions 34 withlips 37 engaging theslots 35 for providing locking means for engaging the sideflap ear portions 34, and supporting and retaining the side flaps 33 andside portions 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a modifiedcontainer 41 is disclosed. Thecontainer 41 is similar in construction to the container 11 and similar parts have been given the same reference characters. Atop flap 42 providing an upper wall, is marginally connected to the upper margin of one of theside portions 14. Thetop flap 42 includes opposed side shoulders 43, and a tongue 44 connected to the top wall margin opposite to the margin connected to theside portion 14. Theother side panel 33 includes ashoulder portion 45 connected at its upper margin. Aslot 46 is provided at said margin for receiving the tongue 44.

Thetop flap 42 includes acenter opening 47 having a plurality ofradial slits 50. The radial slits 50 provide a plurality offlexible fingers 51 in theflap 42.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, an additional modifiedcontainer 52 is shown in which parts that are similar to thecontainers 11 and 41 are indicated by the same characters of reference. Thecontainer 52 includes atop wall 53 provided bytop flap portions 54.

Eachtop flap portion 54 is connected to an upper margin of a side flaps 32. Thetop flap portions 54 each include opposedside shoulder portions 55 havingmarginal slots 56. Theslots 56 receivetop tabs 57 which are connected to the upper margins of the side flaps 33.

A center opening 60 (FIG. 7) is provided, when thetop flap portions 54 are brought together, by the semicircular margin portions 61 of eachtop flap portion 54. A plurality of radial slits 62 extend from eachsemi-circular margin portion 61 and provideflexible fingers 63 in each of thetop flap portions 54.

Anothercontainer 65 is disclosed in FIG. 9. Thecontainer 65 has abase portion 66 with four upwardly and outwardly tapered sidewall portions including opposed wall portions 67, and opposedwall portions 68 interconnecting the wall portions 67. Opposed sidemarginal notches 70 are included in thewall portions 68. Thecontainer 65 can be constructed of cardboard material, but in the preferred embodiment is of molded plastic material.

It is thought that the structural features and functional advantages of the package for horticultural items have become fully apparent from the foregoing description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure, a brief description of the operation and use of the package will be given.

When it is desired to package a horticultural item, an appropriate container such as thecontainers 11, 41, 52 or 65 is placed on thepedestal 24. Thecontainers 11, 41 and 52 are normally stored flat to conserve storage and shipping space.

It will be seen that these containers are extremely efficient in the use of cardboard when they are manufactured. As seen in FIGS. 4, 6 and 8, the side lock flaps 36 do not extend substantially beyond the side flaps 33 of theside panels 32. '

Assembly of thecontainers 11, 41 and 52 is substantially the same. Theside panels 32 are folded upwardly from thebase portion 13 at themargins 30, while the side flaps 33 are folded inwardly on theside portions 14. The side lock flaps 36 are then folded upwardly from thebase portion 13 at themargins 31, and are folded down about theear portions 34, with thelips 37 engaging theslots 35. This completes assembly of the container 11.

For thecontainer 41 of FIG. 6, the side shoulders 43 of thetop flap 42 are folded inwardly, as is the tongue 44. Thetop wall 42 is then folded down, with the tongue 44 being received by theslot 46, and with the side-shoulders 43 being received within theside flap 42.

For thecontainer 52 of FIG. 8, theside shoulder portions 55 of thetop flap portions 54 are folded inwardly, and thetop flap portions 54 are then folded downwardly with thetabs 57 inserted in theslots 56.

It will be understood that thecontainers 41 and 52 are particularly useful for receiving and supporting bud bases, cruets, brandy snifters and the like, as for example thebud base 72 shown in FIG. 5. Thecontainers 11 and 65 ar particularly suited to receiving floral arrangements such as that shown in FIG. 1, or potted plants and other large horticultural items. Horticultural items which can utilize thispackage 10 include both cut and uncut flowers and plants, and dried and plastic flowers and plants.

When packaging the horticultural item, the item with its receptacle, such asbud vase 72, is placed in a container, such as a container 11 shown in FIG. 1. Asleeve 12 is drawn up about the container 11, with thesleeve 12 engaging theside portions 14 and 15 of the container 11 adjacent to thelower opening 19 of thesleeve 12. In withdrawing asleeve 12 from thepedestal 22, aninner sleeve 12 is manually drawn upwardly. Thestraps 26 resiliently flex to allow removal of the smaller diameterlower opening 19 over and from the bowed straps 26. When thesleeve 12 has been placed over the container 11 andfloral arrangegent 20, theupper end 18 of thesleeve 12 can be folded over and stapled or taped shut.

Thecontainers 41, 52 and 65 are utilized in a similar manner. Thesecontainers 41, 52 and 65 are placed on apedestal 22 and the particular horticultural item and its receptacle to be wrapped is then placed in the container and anappropriate sleeve 12 is drawn up about the container and closed. If desired, thecontainers 11, 41, 52 and 65 can be used without asleeve 12 by wrapping them with sheet material in a conventional manner.

Thecontainers 11, 41, 52 and 65 provide thermal insulation between the receptacle 21 and any surfaces on which the container is placed. Some mechanical shock protection is also provided to the receptacle 21 should the package be bumped or knocked during transportation.

To remove thefloral arrangement 20 from thepackage 10, thesleeve 12 can be removed as by tearing, and the receptacle 21 can be grasped through thenotches 17 for removal from the container 11.

Thebud vase 72 can be removed from thecontainer 41 by pulling the vase vertically from thecontainer 41, thefingers 51 flexing to allow thevase 72 to pass through theopening 47.

Claims (6)

I claim as my invention:

1. A package for horticultural items with a receptacle comprising:

(a) a molded plastic container means including:

1. a polygonal shaped base portion for supporting the receptacle, and

2. a plurality of side portions connected to and extending upwardly from the base portion about the receptacle the side portions including a first pair of opposed side portions extending upwardly and outwardly from the base portion, and

(b) a tapered flexible sleeve of foldable plastic sheet material having a relatively larger upper opening and a relatively smaller lower opening, the sleeve being initially formable into a generally conical configuration to receive the different shaped container and being generally conformable to and engageable with the container side portions to support the container means.

2. A package as defined in claim 1, in which:

(c) the base portion is rectangularly shaped, and the side portions include a second pair of upwardly and outwardly extending opposed side portions.

3. A package as defined in claim 1, in which:

(c) at least one pair of opposed side portions include opposed side notches for providing access to the receptacle in the container means.

4. A package for horticultural items with a receptacle comprising:

(a) an erectable container means including:

1. a polygonal shaped base portion for supporting the receptacle, and

2. a plurality of side portions connected to and extending upwardly from the base portion about the receptacle the side portions including a first pair of opposed side portions extending upwardly from the base portion, and

(b) a tapered flexible sleeve having a relatively larger upper opening and a relatively smaller lower opening, the sleeve engageable with the container side portions to support the container means.

5. A package as defined in claim 4, in which:

(c) the base portion is rectangularly shaped and the side portions include upper margins defining a rectangular upper opening, and

(d) the flexible sleeve is generally conical but conformable to the shape of the container, the container upper opening being larger than the sleeve lower opening so that the flexible sleeve can grip and hold the container.

6. A package for horticultural items with a receptacle comprising:

(a) an erectable container means including:

1. a polygonal shaped base portion for supporting the receptacle, and

2. a plurality of side portions connected to and extending upwardly from the base portion about the receptacle the side portions including a first pair of opposed side portions extending upwardly from the base portion, and

(b) a tapered flexible sleeve of foldable plastic sheet material having a relatively larger upper opening and a relatively smaller lower opening, the sleeve being initially formable into a generally conical configuration to receive the different shaped container and being generally conformable to and engageable with the container side portion to support the container means.

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